KARACHI: Though business leaders are known to take keen interest in the emerging political scenario, when it comes to manifestos issued by political parties ahead of the elections, they find it “nothing but a thing of the past”. All the lofty assurances, the tall claims, and the rosy promises, they say, sound good to the ears, but not to the mind. The pertinent question, according to them, relates to the strategy these parties have in mind to execute their plans if and when voted to power. On this vital issue, all the manifestos keep a discreet silence, the business leaders point out.

To former president of Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry Majid Aziz, the manifestos appear to be mere wish lists of various parties. “The real task comes at the stage of implementation where you need huge funds and resources with a dedicated approach to ensure minimum wastage and maximum results. We have seen in the past how such schemes went down the drain owing to large-scale corruption and abuse of power,” he said.

His point was taken further by Pakistan Bedwear Exporters Association Chairman Shabir Ahmed, who calls these manifestos as yet another opportunity for the political parties to coin misleading phrases to hoodwink the masses. Major political parities in other countries, he points out, form shadow cabinets ahead of general election to do some concrete homework about the assignment that may lie ahead of them.

In Pakistan, however, they spend their energies cultivating the establishment which ensures their entry into the corridors of power, and that makes the whole exercise of preparing manifestos futile, he asserted.

Mushtaq Vohra, a former chairman of All-Pakistan Textile Mills Association (Sindh-Balochistan), agreed wholeheartedly. “Any party may reach the seat of power, but it would not be possible for any of them to deliver because they have all failed to give long-term economic and industrial plans that are badly needed to generate enough resources for meeting the cost of the promises they have made in their manifestos,” he maintained.

After the WTO regime came into effect in 2005, the world markets have suddenly turned into ‘buyers market’ where three major factors ensure the success of a product: quality, competitive price and prompt delivery. Unfortunately, Pakistan lacks in all the three areas and its products are facing a tough competition, said Manzar Alam, a former chairman of Korangi Association of Industry, regretting that none of the manifestos had touched on sensitive issues like this.

Naqi Bari, Chairman of Pakistan Hosiery Manufacturers Association, believes all the goals outlined in the various manifestos could be achieved if somebody may put in place an effective industrial policy that may somehow ensure rapid industrialization in the country. “This will not only generate jobs but will also improve standard of living and ultimately will also check inflation and the rising cost of living. But unfortunately none of the parties have come out with any prescription or plan that could remove the basic causes of all our ills,” he said.

A number of industrialists also pointed out the fact that paying a high cost of doing business in Pakistan was only side of the story; equally worrisome is the fact that industries do not get basic needs such as gas, power and water to keep their wheels running.

“But when we look at these documents there are no answers to such basic issues confronting the country,” said Zubair Tufail, the Vice-President of Pakistan Federation of Chamber of Commerce and Industry, adding that by the looks of it, the next government would either go for new taxes or approach the IMF – or maybe both!

Citing the case of the textile industry which has seen the closure of 160 spinning and over 300 textile apparel units in recent times, Mr Tufail wondered how the political leaders hoped to deliver what they have promised in their manifestos when they have no idea about how to sustain the existing industry.